Nexus resource
Macbeth for beginners Act 5
Scene summaries
Subject:
Age range:
Topic:
English
10–12, 12–14
Macbeth
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015
Source | This resource was originally developed by Ruth Wilson for Wolverhampton Local Authority and
has been adapted by EAL Nexus. Images from Self-Made Hero’s Manga Shakespeare series.
Macbeth Act 5
Scene 1
Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
A doctor and a lady-in-waiting are talking about Lady Macbeth. Lady
Macbeth has been sleepwalking and talking in her sleep.
Lady Macbeth appears. She is walking in her sleep. She is rubbing her hands
together as if she is washing them. While she is sleepwalking she talks
about Duncan’s death, Lady Macduff and her children’s deaths, and the
death of Banquo. The doctor says there is nothing he can do to help Lady
Macbeth. He says she needs a priest not a doctor.
Key words or phrases with pictures
the doctor
a lady-in-waiting
rubbing her hands together
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
a priest
to need
sleepwalking
©British Council 2015
Scene 2
The countryside near Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Some of the Scottish noblemen and their soldiers arrange to meet Malcolm
and the army from England near to Birnam Wood.
Key words or phrases with pictures
some of the Scottish noblemen and their soldiers
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to arrange to
Scene 3
Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Macbeth knows that his enemies are near. He remembers the witches’
prophecies that no man born of a woman can harm Macbeth, and that he
will not be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth is
very agitated. He asks Seyton to bring his armour. He asks the doctor how
Lady Macbeth is. The doctor says she is very restless. Macbeth says he
wishes the doctor had some medicine that would defeat the English army.
The doctor wants to leave Dunsinane.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Macbeth’s armour
medicine
Seyton
©British Council 2015
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
his enemies
to remember
restless
to wish
Scene 4
Near Birnham Wood
The armies from Scotland and England have gathered near Birnam Wood
and are preparing to fight Macbeth. Malcolm orders the soldiers to cut
branches from the trees and carry them. This is so Macbeth will not be able
to see how big the armies are. Malcolm says that the people fighting on
Macbeth’s side do not really want to support him.
Key words or phrases with pictures
a branch from a tree
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to carry
©British Council 2015
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to cut
to order
to support
to want to
Scene 5
Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Macbeth says his castle is strong. He plans to wait inside until his enemies
give up and go away.
Seyton arrives and tells Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is dead.
A messenger arrives and tells Macbeth that Birnam Wood looks as if it is
moving. It is the English and Scottish armies carrying the tree branches.
Macbeth decides to put on his armour and go out and fight bravely.
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to give up
strong
©British Council 2015
Scene 6
Outside Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Malcolm orders the soldiers to throw down their branches and fight. The
battle begins.
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to throw down
to begin
Scene 7
Outside Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Macbeth fights with a young English man called Siward and kills him.
Macduff arrives. He is searching for Macbeth.
Siward’s father, Old Siward, arrives and says that the people in the castle
have surrendered.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Old Siward
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
to search for
to surrender
©British Council 2015
Scene 8
Outside Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Macbeth and Macduff meet in the middle of the battle. Macbeth tells
Macduff that he cannot defeat him, because the witches said that no man
born to a woman would be able to harm Macbeth. Macduff says that he was
not born to a woman by a normal birth, he was born by a Caesarean
section.
They fight and Macduff kills Macbeth.
Key words or phrases with pictures
born by a Caesarean section
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
in the middle of
a normal birth
Scene 9
Outside Macbeth’s castle at Dunsinane
Malcolm arrives with his army. Old Siward hears the news that his son is
dead.
Macduff arrives, carrying Macbeth’s severed head. He greets Malcolm as
King of Scotland.
Malcolm says he is happy that the tyrant, Macbeth, is dead and now
Scotland can be free again. He invites everyone to come to his coronation at
Scone.
©British Council 2015
Key words or phrases with pictures
Macbeth’s severed head
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
coronation
to greet
to invite
©British Council 2015